NEWS RELEASE
MP VANCE BADAWEY
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Niagara Centre Vance Badawey was thrilled yesterday afternoon, after almost a year of tariffs applied to Canadian steel and aluminum were cancelled once and for all, with no strings attached. See related story here.
“This is excellent news for steel and aluminum producers and manufacturers in Niagara Centre, and across Canada,” Badawey said after receiving word from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Hamilton this afternoon.
Trudeau was in Steeltown to make the announcement, fresh off the plane from Paris. Standing strong was what Canadians expected of his government, he said, and “that’s what we did. This was a real Team Canada effort."
“This was top of mind for me, for all of us, this past year,” Badawey said. “It was extremely stressful for steel producers, manufacturers, workers, and for families. This is a big win for all of us, having tariffs lifted, with no quotas attached.”
The deal applies to the tariffs the U.S. imposed last June by citing national security — 25 per cent on imports of steel and 10 per cent on aluminum — as well as Canada's retaliatory tariffs on steel, aluminum and as other consumer products.
The Canadian government released a statement saying the two sides have agreed to eliminate the tariffs, considered illegal and unjustified, in no later than two days.
“The retaliatory tariffs worked, Badawey noted, “but so did steady conversations between Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and her American counterparts all these months. I’m proud of her, and of all our team.
“We didn’t cave in, as the Conservatives advised again and again. We stood up for Canadian steel, Canadian workers, and Canadian families.”
“We did a lot of work, locally, that contributed to today’s announcement. A great deal of appreciation goes out to local partners,” Badawey added, “such as Tim Clutterbuck of ASW, who has been an integral part of the process which has brought us here today, as well as local union leaders and members.
“It truly was an amazing team effort. We didn’t give up on each other, and we didn’t give up on the Americans either.”
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